A federal judge, Amit Mehta, ruled against Google for maintaining a monopoly in its online search business, valued at over $2 trillion. The 230-page ruling does not require Google to sell key assets like Chrome or Android, which were controversial demands from the US government. However, Google is ordered to share search data with competitors. Mehta acknowledged that the AI landscape has altered legal perspectives and approached the ruling with caution, emphasizing the challenges of predicting future developments.
The ruling follows a landmark decision in 2023 where Mehta found Google violated antitrust laws. Proposals from the Justice Department aimed to force Google to divest Chrome and modify its exclusive agreements with major companies, but Google argued these measures could have negative consequences. The company plans to appeal the ruling, and it continues to face other antitrust issues, including a separate case regarding its online advertising technology.
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